10th Anniversary Part 15

Yuki laughed. "No. Shut up. I had a doughnut. I'm on a sugar high and you're not the Mentalist. I hope Angela Walker shows up. What did you think? Did she sound solid to you?"

"She sounded eager. It would be crazy if she didn't show."

They were now walking the long green-floored corridor that was the feeder artery to the courtrooms. Panels of fluorescent buzzed overhead. Yuki tipped her chin up to signal Nicky as she pa.s.sed the woman sitting on one of the backless benches along the wall, talking to a bailiff.

It was Angela Walker, their surprise witness.

Walker was forty, had spun-sugar, strawberry-blond hair piled on top of her head, and was wearing a V-necked French-blue sweater and a dark blazer and tailored pants. Yuki thought, If Angela Walker's testimony is half as good as she looks, this witness will do fine.

Yuki and Nick entered 3B, walked to the prosecution table, and nodded to Hoffman and his second chair, Kara Battinelli, one of those brainy grads a couple of years out of Boalt Law.

Battinelli gave Yuki a cat-that-got-the-cream look - which Yuki returned in kind.

Nick set up his laptop and Yuki's and got them both squared away before the proceedings began.

The bailiff, a bald and expressionless man in a green uniform, called court into session, and Judge LaVan entered the packed courtroom, wearing a scowl. The gallery rose and then sat, causing a rustle to bounce and boomerang off the oak paneling. When the room was quiet again, LaVan greeted the jury.

Then, he said, "Ms. Castellano. You're up."

Yuki stood and asked that Ms. Angela Walker be called.

All eyes swiveled toward the aisle as a woman who, even to Yuki's eyes, looked edible made her languid way to the witness stand and was sworn in.

Chapter 50.

"MS. WALKER," YUKI said to her lovely looking witness, "do you know the defendant, Dr. Candace Martin?"

"I've never met her. But of course I know who she is."

"Did you know her husband, Dennis Martin?"

"Yes. I was seeing Dennis for a couple of years. Until about a month before his death."

Yuki tucked her hair behind her ears and said to Walker, "By 'seeing' Dennis Martin, do you mean you were having a s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p with him?"

"Yes. I saw him two, three nights a week."

"And you knew he was married?"

"Yes. Yes. I knew. But he told me his marriage was a sham. He was staying with his wife for the sake of the kids."

Yuki liked what the witness was saying and the way she was saying it. She was calm and sounded credible and honest.

"Ms. Walker, can you tell the court why your relations.h.i.+p with Mr. Martin ended?"

"He told me he was seeing someone else and that it was serious. He said he just couldn't contain the messiness of his social life anymore."

"Did you believe him?"

"Oh yes. He was a hound. A goat. A snake. A shark. A skunk. Pick your animal, and that was Dennis."

"And where were you when Dennis was killed?"

"Sydney, Australia. As far away from him as I could get."

"Ms. Walker. Did you call the Martin house while you were in Sydney?"

"I hate to admit it, but I called Candace. Might have set this whole debacle into motion."

"Really. Could you be more specific?"

"I was heartbroken. I wanted to get back at Dennis, so I called Candace and told her about my two-year affair with her husband. And I told her that he was still seeing someone."

"Did you know who Dennis was seeing?"

"Nope. Didn't have a clue."

"And how did Candace Martin react to your phone call?"

"She was really cold. She said, 'You're right. He's an animal. Someone ought to put him down. I might do it myself.'"

"Thank you. Your witness," Yuki said, walking away.

Chapter 51.

PHIL HOFFMAN STOOD UP behind the defense table. He looked well rested and at the top of his game, a study in gray pinstripes and old school tie.

Yuki took note of the way the jurors looked at Phil. They liked him.

"Ms. Walker, you don't like Candace Martin, do you?" Hoffman asked.

"I don't dislike her. Like I said, I've never met her."

"Well, you clearly had no regard for her. You were sleeping with her husband for two years, knowing full well that he had a home, two young children, and a wife. Isn't that right?"

"Your Honor, counsel is leading the witness."

"Sustained. Don't do that, Mr. Hoffman."

"Sorry, Your Honor."

Hoffman jingled the coins in his pocket, turned back to the witness, and asked, "Do you have any regard for the defendant?"

"Not really." The woman squirmed in her seat. Patted her hair.

"In fact," said Hoffman, "you don't care if Candace lives or dies. Excuse me. Let me make that a question. Ms. Walker, do you care if Candace Martin lives or dies?"

"No, I guess not."

"Would it be fair to say about you that h.e.l.l hath no fury like a woman scorned?"

"Your Honor!" Yuki said.

Hoffman smiled and said, "I have nothing further for this witness."

Chapter 52.

YUKI WAS AT the bar in MacBain's when Cindy breezed in, looking like she'd sprouted wings. She was obviously that over-the-moon happy. Yuki hugged her friend and said, "I hope this high you're on is contagious."

"Me, too," said Cindy.

Yuki grinned and patted the stool next to her, and as Cindy flung herself onto the seat, Yuki said, "Tell me all about that bended-knee proposal in front of G.o.d and all his angels."

Cindy laughed and Yuki leaned in to hear all about it - and Cindy didn't spare any detail.

Yuki had always liked Rich. It was rare to find a guy who was both movie-star gorgeous and not in love with himself. Yuki knew Rich to be the opposite of a narcissist. He was a genuinely sweet guy of the old-fas.h.i.+oned, chivalrous kind. Perfect man for Cindy.

And now Yuki was dating a cop, too.

A married one.

"Hey, I've done all the talking," Cindy said. "I think that's a first. Tell me something I don't know."

Yuki blurted, "I'm going out with Jackson Brady."

"No. You are not not," Cindy said. "Are you kidding me?"

Yuki took a look around to make sure Brady hadn't come inside the saloon while she wasn't looking.

"I swear. It's true."

"Holy cow," Cindy said, the shocked look on her face saying that she was way impressed. "Tell me everything. Don't leave out a word."

Yuki laughed, then filled her friend in on the whole story: the conferences with Brady regarding the Martin case, their first date at First Crush, a cool wine bar and restaurant, perfectly named. And she told Cindy about her date with Brady Friday night at Renegade.

"He told me things about himself that were pretty revealing."

"Did you sleep with him?" Cindy asked.

"Everyone is so interested in my s.e.x life. Why?"

"Well, did you?"

"No. No, I didn't. But I wanted to."

"When are you seeing him again?"

"Well ... if I remember correctly, Sat.u.r.day night," Yuki said, with a coy smile.

"Hah! Well, I have a feeling you're going to have another chance to get his clothes off. Jeez. You'd better tell me all about it, girlfriend. I'm not kidding. This, I gotta hear."

The waiter carried their drinks to a small table by the window. He brought their lunches right after that, saying, "Please be careful. These plates are hot. Can I get you ladies another drink?"

Yuki pa.s.sed on a second beer and removed the onions from her burger and cut it in half. "I find Brady tremendously attractive," she said.

"Who doesn't?" said Cindy, taking aim at her fries with a ketchup bottle, thwacking the bottom. "He's like Don Johnson in that old show Miami Vice Miami Vice. Tubbs. No, Crockett."

"One problem," Yuki said.

"Only one?"

"He's married. Lindsay says."

"Wait. He's married? married? And he didn't tell you?" And he didn't tell you?"

"No, but he will. Don't forget what I do for a living."

"Be careful, Yuki. You're hooked, you're cooked. That plate is hot."

"I'm on it," Yuki said. "I am." She finished most of her burger, checked her watch, and pictured setting off Judge LaVan if she was late. "c.r.a.p. I've got to go."

"I'll get the check," Cindy said.

"But I'm taking you out to lunch."

"Next time," Cindy said.

Yuki dabbed her lips with a napkin, kissed Cindy's cheek, and rubbed her engagement ring with her thumb as if making a wish on Aladdin's lamp. With Cindy's laughter in her ears, Yuki ran out of the bar.